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Arrest stems from Nov. 9 weapon discharging incident at Escambia County High School’s Cornell Torrence Gymnasium

An Atmore man was arrested Nov. 13 on discharging a firearm into a building/train charges, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the ECSO’s jail log, LaCarlos Thomas, 19, of Atmore, was booked into the county detention center on Nov. 13, at 11:11 a.m., and released on Nov. 15 at 10:45 a.m.

Thomas was arrested for discharging a firearm into a building or train and certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm, according to the ECSO.

The arrest stemmed after a weapon discharged during a girls basketball game at Escambia County High School’s Cornell Torrence Gymnasium on Nov. 9.

According to Advance archives, ECSO deputies, along with the Atmore Police Department responded to a report of a weapon being discharged inside of the gymnasium last Thursday.

The weapon was discharged at around the 1:20 mark of the third period of the varsity girls’ basketball game against Monroe County.

“A preliminary investigation lead to the determination that a small group of individuals entered the gym area and that one of the young men was concealing a handgun in his waistband,” Jackson said. “The firearm fell from the suspect’s pants and hit the ground causing the gun to discharge. Two people in the group later showed up at area hospitals for treatment for what appeared to be wounds from bullet fragments.”

Due to the weapon discharge, the varsity boys game was canceled. The game will be made up at a later date.

Jackson said in the initial release, that this is still an ongoing investigation and will be updated in the future as arrests are made.

Jackson added that the incident was isolated, and there doesn’t appear to be any intent to shoot or harm anyone that they have discovered.